Looking ahead, without looking back (too often)

Facing Darkness

One atrocity will replace another.
Each must be recorded,
not ignored,
to give us the strength
to face the next, most sure to come.

With Guess That Art II, Ronovan asks us to write a poem inspired by Guernica, which was painted by Pablo Picasso in response to Nazi Germany’s 1937 bombing of the Basque town of Guernica during the Spanish Civil War.
Image source: pablopicasso.org(click image for larger view in new tab)

Thanks, Jazz.
I just read an autobiography by Thomas Hart Benton. He painted a 250 ft. mural for the state of Indiana to be displayed at the 1933 world’s Fair in Chicago. His style was to include various scenes from history, both good and bad. The KKK was a major element in the politics of Indiana in the 1920s, and he fought to depict a Klan rally in the background of one panel because he felt the dark past should not be whitewashed. That mural now has a place at a lecture hall at Indiana University’s Bloomington campus, and protests have led to claims that such vile acts should not be given prominence, removing public access to that individual panel. https://theconversation.com/the-misguided-campaign-to-remove-a-thomas-hart-benton-mural-86431

History is what it is. Future “we” can learn from it better if we’re aware (of what’s currently considered good and considered bad). What seems missing is a way to leave statues/murals/plaques but somehow add reflective commentary (perhaps in bronze!) Seems we have lost the ability to disagree civilly and things controversial get removed/hidden with the intention of avoiding protests. Sad,